Help with costs

Medicare Savings Programs

Medicare Savings Programs are state-run programs that help people with limited income pay their Medicare costs — most often the Part B premium, and at the most comprehensive level, deductibles and coinsurance too. There are three levels (QMB, SLMB, and QI), each with its own income limits, and qualifying usually enrolls you in Extra Help for drug costs as well.

Reviewed by Scott Stafford, Licensed Insurance Agent

Last updated

What Medicare Savings Programs are

Medicare Savings Programs help with the everyday costs of Original Medicare. The most common benefit is paying your Part B premium — worth $202.90 a month in 2026 — and the most comprehensive level goes further, covering deductibles and coinsurance as well. The programs are run by your state, within federal rules.

The three levels

Which program you qualify for depends on your income:

  • QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) is the most comprehensive. It pays your Part B (and any Part A) premium plus deductibles and coinsurance, and it protects you from being billed for Medicare cost-sharing.
  • SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) pays your Part B premium.
  • QI (Qualifying Individual) also pays your Part B premium, but its funding is limited and granted first-come, so it’s worth applying early each year.

Who qualifies

Each level has its own income limit, running roughly from around 100% of the federal poverty level for QMB up to about 135% for QI, along with resource limits. As with Extra Help, those figures update every year and are more generous than many assume, so applying is worthwhile even if you’re close to the line.

How to apply

You apply through your state Medicaid office. One application can do double duty: qualifying for a Medicare Savings Program usually enrolls you in Extra Help for prescription costs automatically, so a single step can lower both your medical and drug bills.

QMB comes with a strong protection: providers are not allowed to bill you for Medicare deductibles or coinsurance. If you’re billed anyway, you can point them to your QMB status.

Common questions

Medicare Savings Programs FAQ

What do Medicare Savings Programs pay for?
At minimum, your Part B premium. The most comprehensive level, QMB, also pays deductibles and coinsurance and protects you from being billed for Medicare cost-sharing.
What’s the difference between QMB, SLMB, and QI?
QMB is the most comprehensive, covering premiums plus deductibles and coinsurance. SLMB and QI pay the Part B premium, with QI limited by first-come funding. Each has its own income limit.
How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program?
Through your state Medicaid office. Qualifying usually enrolls you in Extra Help for drug costs automatically, so one application can lower both medical and prescription costs.

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